State of Connecticut secondary Archives: on Gun Control

Matthew Corey:
Gun control needs more mental health programs

On the heels of Sen. Murphy's call for Congress to take action on gun control following the mass shooting in Las Vegas. Corey attacked his actions and statements. Corey insists now is the time for healing, not political rhetoric. "What law is
Senator Murphy going to put in place to keep the guns out of criminals hands? So what he's doing is a knee jerk reaction to take away the rights of abiding citizens. Corey believes part of the solution to mass shootings is to focus on mental healthcare.

Source: News8 WTNH on 2018 Connecticut Senatorial race
Oct 4, 2017

Catherine Templeton:
Gun owner & NRA member

Catherine believes government doesn't have the right to tell the citizens of South Carolina how best to defend our families.
Catherine is a gun owner, carries a concealed weapons permit, and is a member of the NRA. On guns--we can count on Catherine to stand up for our constitutional rights and protect our conservative values.

August Wolf:
Never disarm law abiding Americans

Our constitutional right to keep and bear arms must be defended. When the Founding Fathers wrote "shall not be infringed," they meant what they said.
I own firearms and I use them for sport frequently. We ought to focus on keeping mentally ill people and criminals from getting guns, not disarming law abiding Americans.

Tom Foley:
Newtown law added inconveniences on law-abiding citizens

Tom Foley is critical of the state's sweeping gun control laws passed after the 2012 elementary school shooting in Newtown. But when asked what measures he would support, Foley wouldn't say.

Foley declined to take a position on the Connecticut
law that prohibits the sale of ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. The ban was signed into law by Gov. Dan Malloy (D) last year as part of a comprehensive package that also expanded background checks for private gun sales and broadened
the state's assault weapons ban to include newer firearms models. "I'm not going to rewrite the bill, but there were a lot of inconveniences put on law-abiding citizens that wouldn't have prevented what happened in Newtown," Foley said. "These guns were
bought with a background check and everything was legal. My bill would have been different." When pressed further on what that alternative bill might look like, Foley said, "I'm not going to answer that question."

Tom Foley:
Let stand current gun laws, but no specific proposals

Foley said he dislikes some of the sweeping gun controls enacted in response to the Sandy Hook school massacre in Newtown, but offered no specifics. [Foley's primary opponent John] McKinney tried to capitalize on Foley's reticence. McKinney said. "When
the Newtown tragedy happened, I had the courage to take a stand and fight for the people I represent. Tom sat on the sidelines and lobbed criticisms, and he has yet to offer one specific plan about what he would do."

Foley let the remark pass.
Foley has made the calculation there is no profit in expressing an opinion about whether the state was right to ban the sales of military-style weapons such as the AR-15 rifle and magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds. Instead, Foley has tried
to neutralize the issue by saying he would not seek the repeal or the revision of the law, which McKinney voted for and Malloy signed. In a GOP primary, polls indicate the advantage lies not with the legislator who voted for gun control.

We know that our work is never complete, that we can always make our communities safer and stronger. One pressing public safety issue is the fact that New Hampshire does not provide the current background check system with information about individuals
who should not be sold a firearm due to serious mental illness--even though that information is supposed to be included under federal law.

I understand that some oppose changes to this system because they have concerns about the impact on 2nd amendment
rights, and some because they fear such changes would stigmatize those with mental illness.

Senator Watters has led efforts to address this challenge in a thoughtful way, leading toward a measure to study the issue and make recommendations for further
legislation. I encourage both the Senate and House to pass this bill, and I encourage those who have initially opposed the measure to be willing to re-evaluate their positions and to help find a way through this issue, together.

Source: 2014 State of the State address to Connecticut legislature
Feb 6, 2014

Tom Foley:
Enough on gun control; focus on preventing another Newtown

The Connecticut Democratic Party pointed out that Foley has refused to take a stand on the historic gun safety legislation that just passed the legislature, backed by a sizable number of Republican votes. Yet despite having some cover from members of his
own party, it's a topic Foley clearly does not want to discuss:

"Foley last month said he wanted to wait until the police report was issued on the slayings by Adam Lanza of 26 people, including 20 first-graders, at Sandy Hook Elementary School Dec. 14
in Newtown. That report is not due out until June. 'I thought gun legislation ought to focus on what would prevent another Newtown from happening,' Foley said. 'Newtown has obviously been politicized nationally.'"

Foley also accused Malloy of using the
Newtown tragedy "to change the subject away from the budget; [the Newtown gun bill] includes a lot of things totally unrelated to Newtown" he said. Pressed on which aspects were irrelevant to the murders, Foley said, "Enough on gun control. It's over."

Source: Daily Kos on 2014 Connecticut Governor race
Apr 15, 2013

Dan Malloy:
Restrict sales of "long guns" and ammunition capacity by age

No person or corporation may sell or transfer any long gun to any person under 18 years of age.

No person
or corporation may sell or transfer any semi-automatic centerfire rifle that accepts a magazine with a capacity exceeding five rounds to any person under 21 years of age.

The provisions shall not apply to local police departments, the Department of
Correction, or members of the military, for use in the discharge of their duties.

After April 1, 2014, no person may purchase or receive any long gun unless such person holds a valid long gun eligibility certificate, a valid permit to carry a pistol
or revolver, or a valid permit to sell a pistol or revolver, except for a federal marshal, parole officer or peace officer.

House Bill Passed, 105-44-2, April 3; Senate Bill Passed, 26-10-0, April 3; Signed by Governor Dan Malloy, April 4, 2013

Source: Connecticut legislative voting record on SB 1160
Apr 4, 2013

Dan Carter:
Voted NO on restricting sales of "long guns" and ammo by age

No person or corporation may sell or transfer any long gun to any
person under 18 years of age.

No person or corporation may sell or transfer any semi-automatic centerfire rifle that accepts a magazine with a capacity exceeding five rounds to any person under 21 years of age.

The provisions shall not apply to
local police departments, the Department of Correction, or members of the military.

After April 1, 2014, no person may purchase or receive any long gun unless such person holds a valid long gun eligibility certificate, or a valid permit to sell a
pistol or revolver, except for a federal marshal, parole officer or peace officer.

Dan Malloy:
More guns are not the answer to gun violence

More guns are not the answer to gun violence
When it comes to preventing future acts of violence in our schools, let me say this: more guns are not the answer. Freedom is not a handgun on the hip of every teacher, and security should not mean a guard posted outside every classroom.

More guns are not the answer to gun violence
As long as weapons continue to travel up and down I-95, what is available for sale in Florida or Virginia can have devastating consequences here in Connecticut.

Source: 2013 Connecticut State of the State address
Jan 9, 2013

Ann-Marie Adams:
Newtown massacre exposes race and class prejudice

The Newtown mass shooting presents an opportune moment to address issues, including gun control laws. But unfortunately too much of the discussion has been focused on "assault weapons" with lethal firepower. Sadly, many implied that
people in urban areas are not violently assaulted by handguns. As we memorialize 26 people who died, we recognize a familiar truth: some lives are worth more than others. And race and class matter in how the story unfolds in the media.

Chris Murphy:
NRA has more control over Congress than any other group

The candidates said they backed gun control legislation. Tong praised state legislation requiring that lost or stolen guns be reported in 72 hours to make it harder for their sale to criminals. "That's the kind of leadership we need in Washington, common
sense legislation," he said.

Murphy said lobbying by the National Rifle Association makes such legislation nearly impossible in Washington. "The NRA has more control over Congress than almost any other political interest group there," he said.

Foley would have signed a gun-control measure passed in 2007 requiring gun owners to report stolen firearms. "I support the 2nd Amendment.
I'm a gun owner myself, but I think with gun ownership comes responsibility."